I was on the actual edge of my seat waiting for this book and it didn't disappoint. What a world this author has created! As a reader, you lose yourself inside it. It's enchanting and gripping and wonderful in every way.

What a great book to follow on from DOTM!

I really enjoyed this one. Just like the first it was full of non-stop action. I liked that it didn't drag on and it felt like there was something going on. The character development was brilliant, you really got to know them a bit more in depth. The worldbuilding is magical - it's so vivid for a reader it was massively enjoyable. I really felt like with this book you were on a true adventure.

I liked the complications behind all of the relationships and the internal battles with their morals or how they felt they should or shouldn't feel in a situation, and I really liked all the conflicts. I felt like this was brilliantly written and really difficult to put down.

I also felt like the ending was really clever, and not wholly expected. A really great read and an easy recommendation!

I was so happy to have had this one approved! I waited for what seemed years to read it after I fell in love with the DOTMG and it did not disappoint.
I have to admit, I liked the first one better, but that usually happens in duology/trilogies and series in general. Unfortunately, at least in my case, the feeling that the introduction of a new world gives me is incomparable to anything else.
The story was good, the characters also, although I didn't think it was necessary for one character to be present, I didn't think it added THAT much to the narration - I won't say who to avoid spoilers.
I did enjoy the ending; it gave us all the answers we needed. I know it's supposed to be a duology, but maybe we get a spin off on what happens next? :-P

This was an enticing sequel and a satisfying conclusion to a good duology.

The story focused on the characters and their relationships to one another, their development was amazing and it created a good balanced to everything that was going on with the rest of the story.

I enjoyed this book.

Arc generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Utterly stunning. Incredibly happy with how the story was wrapped up, could not have hoped for a more perfect conclusion!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Daughter of the Moon Goddess and couldn't wait to dive into the Heart of the Sun Warrior.

I cannot believe this is a debut duology, the writing is exquisite, and the story is engaging and enchanting.

At the end of TDATMG I couldn't predict where the story would take us, it did not disappoint. The twists kept the reader wondering, with particular twists break hearting your heart. It was a rollercoaster that I would love to ride again.

I'm not keen on love triangles as I find them frustrating, but I am satisfied with the direction Sue Lynn Tan took in this particular situation.

This book/duology is heart-warming, beautiful and makes me want to visit the Moon.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for the arc of Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

I fell in love with Daughter of the Moon Goddess last year and this book completes the duology perfectly. Returning to the Celestial Kingdom it picks up right where DotMG left off. Xingyin has returned to life on the moon with her mother and all seems fine, until a visitor arrives, and brings with him suspicion, intrigue and trouble.

From this point forward the book is filled with action, adventure, and poor Xingyin’s heart is totally torn between the two very different men, that we know and love/love to hate from DotMG.

Sue Lynn Tan builds upon the foundations of world building and lyrical, poetic prose of DotMG to deliver even more imaginative, enchanting and vivid imagery that truly captures the imagination, sending it soaring to the Celestial Kingdom.

This is a truly wonderful conclusion to this duology and you definitely won’t go wrong adding it to your collection.

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to Harper Collins and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

I loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess, and was so excited to read the final book in the duology. Unfortunately 2022 seems to be the year for disappointing sequels.

Now, that isn’t to say this was bad, it just didn’t live up to what I expected after the first book.

I found the book to be quite wishy-washy and too focussed on the love triangle, which just wasn’t interesting in the slightest. I wanted more action, more characterisation. I don’t mind romance at all, even prefer there to be some, but only if it isn’t at the detriment to the story and O felt like the love story was a boring and repetitive focus.

I still enjoyed the book despite this qualms, and would pick up the authors next book.

5.0/5.0

Thank you to NetGalley and author Sue Lynn Tan for gifting me an e-c0py of this arc.

After racing through "The Daughter of the Moon Gooddess" I was beyond thankful to receive this arc so I could continue my adventures through the Celestial Kingdom and beyond. And it did not disappoint. "Heart of the sun warrior" was a deeply enchanting and heart warming fantasy tale interwoven throughout with breathtaking Chinese mythology.

As always Sue Lynn Tan's writing was absolutely beautiful throughout and followed Xingyin's fight for her future with some very unexpected twists and turns on the way.

The narrative mainly focused on exploring the characters and their relationships with each other - friendship, betrayal, heartache and forgiveness were all key elements in this novel.

And that love triangle, what more can I say? The highest compliment I can pay this book is to say that I really, really wish it wasn't just a duology.

When I reviewed Daughter of the Moon Goddess, the first in this duology - just about a year ago, actually! - I thought that although the UK cover was lovely, the US cover was much more dramatic and exciting. This year, there's no contest, sadly. The UK cover is nice, but it's so busy. The UK one is nicer, to my eyes.

Luckily, the book is not the cover! Daughter was one of my top books of last year. Although I very much enjoyed this one, it doesn't rank as highly; I felt that parts of it dragged, which didn't happen in the first one. I almost even found myself skimming! I wouldn't have thought that was possible for a Sue Lynn Tan book.

I did love the language very much, it's just as beautiful and flowing as the first volume. The steady love and respect Xingyin and Liwei had for each other is absolute goals, too. (Do we say goals any more? I'm never sure what the slang is...)

Overall I really enjoyed this duology, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what Sue gives us next. I'll be here, front and centre.

Synopsis: The daughter of the moon goddess has finally succeeded in free her mother. At last she can relax and enjoy a peaceful life… or so she thought.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
4 Stars!

CW/TW: Violence/Death/Blood/Imprisonment/Others may be present…

Rep: Chinese Cast, characters etc… Minor side queer character.

Book 1 Review: Daughter of the Moon Goddess (The Celestial Kingdom Duology #1), by Sue Lynn Tan

SPOILER WARNING: THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR BOOK 1 IN THE SERIES!

As this is a sequel and conclusion to this gorgeous duology, I will keep this review short to avoid spoilers!

Heart Of The Sun Warrior is as gorgeous, lush and beautiful as book one was – the prose is sweeping, compelling and vibrant. The rich descriptions are perfectly crafted and the single POV works well with the story.

The plot is as twisty as that of book one, and balances action and emotion perfectly. This book picks up shortly after the conclusion of book 1 – we aren’t left on a cliffhanger but there was still room for more of a story to be told and this book grasped that chance and runs with it. We pick up with Xingyin recovered and living with her mother, the love-triangle from book 1 is still not resolved and her and her mother are under very close watch from the Emperor. The two live peacefully until they are drawn into someone else’s plot and Xingyin is again forced to flee her home.

Sue Lynn Tan again manages to weave multiple plot points together to create a compelling story that is full of twists and turns. Though a little less action packed we do get some more interesting world-building and unexpected events that keep us intrigued but also open up the characters much much more.

I really loved the new plots that are introduced that are yet still deeply connected to the events of books 1. We get Xingyin dealing with the consequences of her choices in book 1 which manifest in interesting and surprising ways that spur the action in this book. We also get much more development in the love-triangle. Now, I am not a fan of love-triangles but I did appreciate how it gave us so much access to the characters and their development in this book. I was actually a little surprised by how the book concluded this but it felt very fitting for the characters and the story being told.

I don’t want to give the plot away but I will say that I found the villain of this book very interesting and the book definitely hit me in the heart more than once! This was an emotional journey that worked on the previous connections we had to the characters are made them much stronger.

Again, I loved the characters!!!! Xingyin is a fantastic MC, headstrong, stubborn, flawed, brave but selfish at times – and I love how she acknowledges her feelings, flaws and faults throughout the book. I adored her relationships with friends, family and love interests and her interactions were always intriguing. I don’t want to give away anything about how the characters change/develop in this book so I’ll just say that I loved how they all worked together, how they all interacted and grew and changed. I adored how they acknowledge the past, how things are broken, rectified or changed. The character dynamics were truly some of the strongest parts of this book

Overall, Heart Of The Sun Warrior, by Sue Lynn Tan is a gorgeous continuation and conclusion to this duology and is full of love, emotion and tension from start to finish.

*Thank you to #Netgalley @HArperCollinsUK for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!*

Taylor Swift who? Sue Lynn Tan plants better easter eggs than her. If that doesn’t convince you to read this book, let me expand. Imagine a book with high-stakes quests, a love triangle where she could end up with anybody, a found family, court politics and amazing prose. This book is Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan.

The book starts sometime after Daughter of the Moon Goddess ended, and starts in a similar way as the first book, with the tranquillity of the palace on the moon. This is where Tan’s prose really shines as she manages to capture the emotions of the surroundings and in quite an interesting way, also the emotions of Xingyin, our main character. Though the descriptions reflect the object they are describing, they also reflect Xingyin’s emotions at that particular period of time. Tan’s prose also stands out during the many action scenes in this book. Often these scenes give me whiplash from just reading them but these were done incredibly well.

The plot also manages to follow a lot of character arcs in a relatively short period of time. Though I think Liwei was a bit of an afterthought in the love triangle, I think his character was expanded on beautifully and contrasted Wenzhi’s situation as a crown prince. Though in similar positions, they don’t have the same way out, an interesting parallel that I loved to read. Though the love triangle didn’t end the way I wanted it to, it was still a wonderful ending. There was something tender about the ending that brought me to tears. And I just can’t stress how amazing this book is. It took me days to get over it (complimentary) and honestly Fault in Our Star who? This book made me cry more than any other book will ever.

Once again! Read if you like Chinese Mythology, court politics, ✨love triangles✨, amazing prose

Firstly - HELLO COVER GOALS!!

What an enchanting, lyrical, stunning sequel to one of my favourite reads of the year and a satisfying sequel to this brilliant duology. Sue Lynn Tan is fast becoming an auto buy author for me.

Captivating, lyrical, and just oh-so lovely conclusion to this duology. I cannot wait to see what comes next from Sue Lynn Tan!

Oh I love this SO MUCH MORE than DOTMG. DOTMG was beautiful but HOTSW? IT’S MAGNIFICENT.

So we came back to the Celestial Kingdom with Xingyin and... everyone. It all started on the moon, picking up where DOTMG had left, where we thought everything was fine and peaceful. This book followed another dire matter that forced Xingyin and everyone she loved to flee her home on the moon and became fugitives.

The writing was still beautiful and lyrical, with enchanting and vivid imagery and impressive setting. The story was action packed and full of tension. It gave all kinds of emotions. The last 10% was hurting me SO MUCH I couldn’t stop sobbing until hours after I finished reading it, in the best way possible. Everything was beautiful. Wouldn’t ask for anything to be done differently. No criticism from me. Absolutely epic. But I’d like to have an extended epilogue please…

Can’t wait for the next Celestial Kingdom novel! Even though the characters are new, I HOPE Xingyin, Wenzhi, and Liwei will make appearances!

I bought Daughter of the Moon Goddess ages ago and have held off reading it as I had a hunch that once I started I would want to immediately move onto Heart of the Sun Warrior. So glad I did as I have just devoured both books in 48 hours.

In Heart of the Sun Warrior we continue to follow Xingyin and the wonderful cast of characters from the first book as they face new challenges and dangers. I don’t want to say anything that will spoil the first book for anyone who hasn’t yet picked it up but this follow up is as engaging as the first and Sue Lynn Tan writes characters and interpersonal relationships beautifully.

I would definitely recommend!

Firstly, I need to tell you that I’m in love with Chinese mythology. Secondly, this sequel is equally captivating as the first book.

The best thing for me, besides the plot, are the characters of the series. They’re strong, well- developed, interesting even when they’re not your favourite, and multi- dimensional.

SLT’s writing is marvellous and reinforces all the good elements of this story in a way that it elevates it a notch or two. The way she goes about the characters feelings is just exceptional.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and took my time as I didn’t want it to finish!

Thank you Net Galley and Harper Collins UK for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was my most anticipated read this year, and it definitely lived up and exceeded my expectations. I am in love with this book.

Once again, Xingyin faces a new evil that threatens her family, causing her to flee from her home and question everything. She seeks help, but it’s difficult when you don’t know which side the potential allies are on. Xingyin once again fights to protect all that she loves.

Of course, Sue Lynn Tan’s writing is beautiful and sculpts the most wonderful world filled with Chinese mythology. You can tell that each sentence is filled with such passion and talent, making it the most amazing novel to read. I will admit I did read this book much slower in hopes of prolonging my experience of reading this for the first time. The descriptive imagery is awe-inspiring and is just so unique. I could go on for sentences about how brilliant this book is - but I will just tell you to read this as it will immerse you in a world that you wish was real. Thank you so much Sue Lynn Tan for writing the Daughter of the Moon Goddess Duology.

I really enjoyed Daughter of the Moon Goddess, so I was beyond thrilled to receive an advanced reader's copy of its sequel and finale!

Heart of the Sun Warrior makes a satisfying conclusion to where its predecessor set off. While it's slower-paced and more character-driven, Sue Lynn Tan's tell-tale action packed scenes are still woven through.
The book starts with Xingyin reunited with her mother, living peacefully on the moon. However, they are soon threatened by a new villain. To avoid imprisonment, they must escape and find allies while the Immortal Realm is in turmoil.
The depiction of the Immortal Realm is as lush and lyrical as ever. The author really captures that whimsical and other-worldly feel, and makes the book reminiscent of a fairytale c-drama.
At times I felt as if the story moved through certain plot points a bit too quickly, and not giving much space to let certain events unfold while giving the reader time to digest the urgency. However, the way the characters were allowed within the story to reflect back on losses, love and duty was beautiful and tugged at the heartstrings. Overall the storytelling really made me believe Xingyin was confiding this tale to me in person.

Heart of the Sun Warrior gives more depth, emotion and political intrigue to the world of DOTM. The journey wraps up in a satisfying way and I'll be sad to leave this world behind. I definitely recommend this to fans of c-drama's and people who love to read about utterly magical worlds.

Daughter of the moon goddess set high expectations for the follow up and ending to the series and this book did not disappoint. It had everything the first book had and more and was an excellent conclusion to the series.

The characters are all so unique and loveable and the romance perfectly entwined with the plot whilst not dominating it too much. The extra world building in this book was excellent and so interesting. The writing is so so so beautiful I could get lost in it forever.

The only complaint I have is that I always want more dragons! But other than that this book was amazing and I’m sad that this is the end of the series.

Thank you to Harper Collins for giving me access to the eARC. I can’t wait to see what Sue Lynn Tan writes next!